The Digester

Despite a Commons vote to end criminal prosecutions for women seeking terminations, arrests and police probes continue because the law change is not yet enacted, with several recent cases involving vulnerable women and hospital interventions.

Nottinghamshire and Metropolitan police confirmed arrests of women suspected of illegal terminations between June last year and January this year.
MPs voted 379 to 137 in June to remove criminal sanctions for women who procure abortion outside the legal framework, but the change has not yet become law.
Reported cases include hospital arrests after miscarriages, seizure of personal devices, and home searches while women remained on labour wards.
Some investigations led to children being temporarily removed from homes and searches over holiday periods, according to professionals involved.
Abortion providers say additional cases exist that do not appear in freedom of information data because some forces refused requests or reported no arrests.
Police say investigations are only opened when there is credible information to suggest criminality, often following concerns raised by medical staff.
Medical and legal experts say investigations are traumatic, rarely lead to charges, and can overlook possible coercion by partners.
The House of Lords is due to debate amendments that include pardons for past convictions and proposals to halt ongoing investigations.

Vulnerable women in England still arrested over suspected illegal abortions

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